How Old Is Toys R Us

You know that feeling when you walk past a toy store and a wave of pure, unadulterated nostalgia hits you? It’s like smelling your grandma’s perfume or hearing the ice cream truck jingle from a block away. For generations of kids—and their parents—that feeling was often tied to one big, bright, and slightly magical place: Toys R Us. But if you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “How old is Toys R Us really?”—pull up a chair, because the answer is a surprisingly warm story about a baby that grew up to be a giant.

The Humble Beginning of a Giant

The truth is, Toys R Us didn’t start out as a toy store at all. It began in 1948 in Washington, D.C., founded by a man named Charles Lazarus. Back then, it was a small store called Children’s Bargain Town, and it sold everything a new parent might need—baby furniture, cribs, strollers.

But Charles was smart. He noticed something interesting: when parents came in to buy a crib, they’d often ask, “Do you sell any toys for the baby, too?” He realized that toys were the real heart of the matter. In 1957, he transformed his shop into the first-ever dedicated toy supermarket, named Toys R Us.

So, if you do the math, the brand itself is 77 years old as of 2025. That’s older than your parents, probably older than your favorite pair of jeans, and definitely older than the internet.

A Name That Went Backwards

Here’s a little detail that always makes people smile: the “R” is backwards. When Charles wanted to brand the store, he wanted it to feel like a child’s own writing, full of imagination and play. He purposely flipped the “R” so it looked like a kid had drawn it.

Brilliant 80s and 90s photos inside former Toys R Us stores in Wales

It’s a tiny, silly choice, but it’s a perfect reminder that the store’s soul was always about wonder over perfection. That backwards letter is like a secret handshake for anyone who ever begged for a Barbie Dreamhouse or a new video game.

Why You Should Care About a Store’s Age

I know what you’re thinking: “Okay, it’s old. So what?” But hear me out. Knowing the age of Toys R Us is like knowing your grandpa’s story—it explains so much about how we ended up here. This store didn’t just sell toys; it invented the way we buy them.

Before Toys R Us, toys were usually hidden behind a counter at a department store, or sold in tiny catalogs. Charles created the first-ever “big box” store dedicated entirely to play. He introduced the idea of walking down endless aisles, with a shopping cart just for you, where you could actually touch the merchandise.

Toys 'R' Us Old School Storefront

Think about your local grocery store or even the Amazon app. The ease of clicking “buy” today? That started with the freedom of wandering those giant blue-and-yellow aisles. Toys R Us was the original playground for consumer choice, and it’s why you now expect variety in everything you buy.

The Day the Magic Almost Ended

Of course, you might have heard the sad part. In 2018, after 70 years of business, Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy and closed all its U.S. stores. For many of us, it felt like losing a piece of childhood. We cried a little, shared memories on social media, and mourned that iconic jingle: “I don’t wanna grow up…”.

But, like a good action figure, the story isn’t over. The brand has been reborn! In 2021, new owners opened a flagship store in New York City, and now you can find mini Toys R Us sections inside Macy’s department stores across the country. The brand is 76 years old, but it’s learning to walk again.

17 historic retro pictures of the old Toys ‘R’ Us store in Preston

What That Means for You and Your Kids

Here’s the warm, fuzzy takeaway: when you see that backwards “R” now, it’s carrying six decades of memories. It’s the reason your parents remember buying your first teddy bear there, and it’s the reason your kids might one day drag you into a Macy’s to see Geoffrey the Giraffe.

Next time you’re shopping for a birthday gift, or you stumble across an old photo of you holding a red and blue shopping bag, remember: that store is a living time capsule. It’s a witness to every Christmas miracle, every birthday wish, and every quiet Tuesday afternoon when you just needed a new puzzle.

So, how old is Toys R Us? It’s old enough to have seen your parents grow up, young enough to be making a comeback, and exactly the right age to remind you that play never gets old.